Major and minor nonconformity

severity of an audit finding

In certification practice a major nonconformity is the absence or total failure of a required element, or a situation that raises significant doubt about the conformity of products. A minor nonconformity is an isolated or partial lapse that does not by itself cast doubt on the system.

Majors usually block or suspend a certificate until the cause is corrected and verified. The exact definition depends on the certification body or the audit scheme.

Calculate it

ISO 9001 Internal Audit: Clause 4 to 10 checklist with minor / major findings, actions and PDF.

Related terms

• Nonconformity: a requirement is not fulfilled
• Internal audit: own audit of the management system (9.2)